Page:Rolland - Beethoven, tr. Hull, 1927.pdf/180

 Andante, full of light and shade—is held by purists to be wrongly barred throughout, the first beat being the third, and so on. It is followed by an Allegro in C major which leads back to the return of the Andante, this time varied. The Allegro, which takes the place of the Scherzo, is full of imagination and vigour. The slow movement is used as a bridge leading into the Finale. All the movements are chained together in one whole. Just before the precipitant Coda, Beethoven takes a final glance back at the subject of the Adagio,

The title page describes the work as for clavecin or pianoforte. The nickname, Moonlight," given to it by the poet Rellstab, has no authority and only serves very faintly to define the peaceful charm of this sensitive picture, which was more probably inspired by the composer's romantic love for the Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The direction in Italian, "to be played throughout with the greatest delicacy," is significant, although the term senza sordini is somewhat vague. It may have meant that it is to be played with the sustaining pedal, i.e., without the dampers. It is probably a general indication that the piece re-